22.12.19

Murder Mountain

You may or may not have seen the Netflix Murder Mountain series. If you haven't, it details the efforts to find a missing man on Humboldt's notorious "Murder Mountain," which is a pot grower's haven. The police are shown as ineffectual or uncaring, and then it is up to a few men to take justice in their own hands when they learn of the missing man's fate. It is Humboldt at its finest, as usual.

When I traveled to Fresno for a convention, that was all people asked me about. "Humboldt? Really? I saw this Murder Mountain show. Is it really like that?" It is, and I would say so, but was also quick to point out it was an edited show, and that it is going for viewers. The reality of it is, though, is that Humboldt is pretty proud of its pot and the pot growing community ... no matter how ugly it gets ... and it has gotten ugly these past few years as foreigners have come into the county and have brought some pretty scary strong arm tactics to establish a foothold. And then there are our Humboldt natives who are just really shit sorry excuses of humanity who think all this is just really oh-so-cool. They take a sense of pride in being one-note and easily read and led. It's equal parts amusing and sad.

I don't think the Murder Mountain series will act as a tourist magnet, but I believe it will attract those who think of themselves as some type of outlaw while they are really just criminals. They will come here thinking it's the Wild West where anything goes and everything is for the taking. The cops will do what they can, but let's face it, that is limited. Vigilante justice, however, still exists here. So if you are one of those "dudes" thinking you can come to Humboldt and shit wherever you please, watch the end of that show one more time. Realize there is a community here that will fight that and, if need be, put a bullet in your head. Come for the crime. Stay as the fertilizer. Now I'd like to see that on a t-shirt.

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